• Todays Trip Day 13
• Start 8:20am
• End 1:40pm
• Underway 3:17 hours
• Distance 16.7
• Av Speed 5.1

Today we started the Erie Canal. There are 5 locks with in the first 2 miles of the Erie Canal. These locks are known as the Filght of Five, and raise you 170. Each lock lifts you approximately 35 feet. There is no where to stop between the these locks, and takes about two hours to complete.

Lock under the Video tab to see a time lapse video of our trip of both the Flight of five, and Lock 7.

We are both getting more comfortable in the locks, both because we now have a couple locks under our belt, and becuase we see when we do struggle, other people in the lock with us, are having the same struggles.

Waterford was a small town, with parks near by. There was a museum that we were going to visit, but it still has not reopened. On Tuesday we walked through town, then up to Lock 2, which we went thru this morning, to get an idea of what we would be going through. Wednesday we rode our bikes to the other side of town, and around the state park. There was a water fall that I wanted to visit, but it was mostly uphill, and Angel's bike is a coaster bike, and not very fun on hills. (Soon to be replaced!) Instead we packed a picnic lunch, and to the dinghy for ride back to the state park for lunch.

While I was getting the dinghy in the water, I was talking to a couple that finished the loop in 2018, and they were leaing thier light weight folding bikes locked to the guard rail, to sell them. They were going to post them on the Great Loop web site. I told them I was interested, but wanted to talk to Angel first. By the time we discussed it, and came back out the couple was gone. All nigt I kept checking the web site but did not see any post. I woke up at 4am, and checked the web site one more time. They had posted the location of the bikes, and said they would give them to the first interested person to post a picture of the bikes. I went out at 4am, and sent them a picture. We now have 4 bikes on the boat, and as soon as we give the new to us bikes a good test ride, we will leave our bikes for someone else to have.

Wednesday night was also Docktail night on Nothing To Plunder, we meet up with the crews from Ginger Gale, Anna Mae, Indigo Seas, and m/v Spirit for drinks and snacks. Everyone except Ginger Gale were leaving in the morning.

More to come tomorrow, when we leave Mohawk Valley.